Fire safety

Fire safety

This page is your go-to resource for all things fire safety at THCH. We’re committed to ensuring the safety of our residents through regular inspections, safety measures, and clear communication. 
    
Here, you’ll find important updates, guidance, and links to key documents that help you stay informed and keep your home safe. Together, we work to maintain a secure environment for all.

What are we doing about fire safety?

At THCH, ensuring the safety of our residents is our top priority. We take a comprehensive approach to fire safety across all of our buildings. Here's what we do:

  • Regular Fire Risk Assessments: We conduct Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) to evaluate each building's safety and identify any necessary improvements to reduce fire hazards​.
  • Fire-resistance measures: We install fire-resistant walls and doors to help prevent the spread of fire between flats and communal areas, providing added protection for your home​.
  • Dry riser testing: We carry out annual dry riser testing to ensure that fire services can easily access water on every floor in the event of an emergency​.
  • Equipment testing: We regularly test emergency lighting and other vital fire safety equipment to ensure it’s in good working order​.
  • Smoke alarms: Many of our homes are equipped with individual smoke alarms, providing an early warning in the event of a fire​.
  • Estate inspections: We regularly inspect our estates, making fire safety checks to identify any potential risks or issues that need addressing.

Resident responsibilities for fire safety

As a resident, you also play a key role in maintaining fire safety in your home. We need to work together to ensure that we identify and prevent any fire risks:

  • Follow fire safety guidelines: Always adhere to fire safety advice, including keeping fire exits and communal areas clear.
  • Reporting potential risks: Inform us immediately if you spot any fire risks, like damaged fire doors or blocked fire escapes.
  • Testing smoke alarms: Check your smoke alarm regularly to ensure it's working, and replace the batteries when needed.
  • Avoid fire hazards: Do not store flammable materials in communal areas or block fire escapes.
  • Keep fire doors closed: Never prop open fire doors, as they are essential in containing fire and smoke.

What to do in a fire

Knowing what to do in the event of a fire could save a life. That’s why we’ve created fire safety guides for all residents, which include important evacuation procedures. You should have been provided with these guides, and they’re also available to download. If you live in a high-rise building (over 18 meters), you’ll find a specific guide. We’ve also created versions for maisonettes and a standard version for all other buildings.

Our buildings follow either a Stay Put or Simultaneous Evacuation policy. It's crucial that you know which policy applies to your building and follow it in the event of a fire.

Your fire safety guides

Stay Put

If a fire occurs in your flat or smoke is coming from another flat, leave the building immediately. Call 999, close doors behind you, and avoid using the lift. Don’t return to the building until the fire brigade has given the all-clear.
    
If the fire is elsewhere in the building and you’re not affected, stay put. Fire doors and fire-stopping walls help contain fires for 30 to 60 minutes, allowing the fire brigade time to manage the situation. 
    
Unless heat or smoke is directly affecting you, staying in your flat is safest, as it avoids you entering areas with fire or smoke. If you’re staying put, call 999, inform the fire brigade of your location, and let them know the best way to reach you.

Simultaneous Evacuation

If you hear the fire alarm or discover a fire anywhere in the building, leave immediately using the nearest exit. Don’t use the lift. Call 999, report the fire, and proceed to the assembly point outside. Do not return to the building until the fire brigade tells you it’s safe to do so.

Need assistance in a fire?

Need assistance in a fire?

If you or someone in your household may require assistance in an emergency, please contact us or complete this form immediately. 

A team member will reach out to create a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) to ensure your safety during a fire.

Fill out the form

Key fire safety information

Below is some key information that you might need to know about the fire safety of your building. We also have a page with all of your key fire safety documents here.

Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs)

FRAs are thorough evaluations of the fire safety measures in a building. They identify potential hazards and help determine where we need to make improvements to reduce fire risks. We carry out regular FRAs across all properties to ensure that each building meets the highest safety standards and any identified issues are addressed promptly.

View the FRA for your building here

EWS1 rating

An EWS1 rating is an assessment of the safety of a building’s exterior wall system, particularly in relation to fire risks. It is a requirement for buildings over 18 meters tall to ensure the external cladding and materials do not pose a fire hazard. This helps residents, lenders, and insurers understand the safety of the building’s cladding system. We have been working to bring all of our buildings with B2 ratings up to a B1, to ensure that residents and leaseholders do not encounter problems due to a low rating.

View your EWS1 rating here

PAS 9980 standards

The PAS9980 standards provide guidance on fire risk assessments for external wall systems, particularly in multi-occupancy residential buildings. It helps building owners assess fire risks posed by external cladding and determine whether remedial actions are necessary. We use the standards to ensure that our properties meet current fire safety standards and are safe for residents.

For a detailed look at PAS9980 standards

Fire doors

Fire doors are crucial components of a building’s fire safety plan. They help contain fire and smoke within a specific area, preventing it from spreading. We install and regularly maintain fire doors to ensure that they function properly in the event of a fire. These doors are essential in protecting the safety of residents by creating fire-resistant barriers.